October 2011 Liahona - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

Since 1830 millions of people have read the Book of
Mormon and have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints because of the Book of Mormon’s witness
4. On September 21, 1823,
Joseph was praying when
light filled his attic bedroom
and an angel named Moroni
appeared. Moroni told Joseph
about writings by some
ancient prophets. The record,
engraved on golden plates,
was buried in a nearby hill.
Joseph was informed he was
to translate the record.
8 Ensign
5. Finally, on September 22, 1827, Joseph was entrusted with
the plates, lifting them from a stone box buried under a large
stone on a hill near Palmyra, New York.
of the Savior. The book is also evidence that Joseph Smith
was a prophet of God and that the Savior leads His Church
today. Millions of people have tested and found true
6. As was common in rural
areas in those days, Joseph
Smith was largely uneducated.
To assist him with the
translation, God provided for
him an ancient translation
instrument called the Urim
and Thummim. He was also
blessed by the help of scribes
who wrote what he dictated
as he translated. Among these
scribes were his wife, Emma;
Martin Harris, a prosperous
farmer; and Oliver Cowdery, a
schoolteacher. The bulk of the
translation work was finished
less than three months after
Oliver began serving as scribe.
Emma described what it was
like to serve as Joseph’s scribe:
“No man could have dictated
the writing of the manuscripts
unless he was inspired; for,